Device and method for modifying the shape of a body organ

Abstract

An intravascular support device includes a support or reshaper wire, a proximal anchor and a distal anchor. The support wire engages a vessel wall to change the shape of tissue adjacent the vessel in which the intravascular support is placed. The anchors and support wire are designed such that the vessel in which the support is placed remains open and can be accessed by other devices if necessary. The device provides a minimal metal surface area to blood flowing within the vessel to limit the creation of thrombosis. The anchors can be locked in place to secure the support within the vessel.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of treating mitral valve regurgitation, the method comprising:
 advancing a collapsible intraluminal cardiac device in a collapsed configuration into a coronary sinus, the intraluminal cardiac device comprising an expandable distal anchor, an expandable proximal anchor, and a fixed length connecting member secured to and extending between the distal and proximal expandable anchors, 
 the intraluminal cardiac device having an expanded configuration external to a patient's body in which
 the proximal anchor and the distal anchor are in expanded configurations, with the expanded proximal anchor defining a proximal lumen and the expanded distal anchor defining a distal lumen, and a diameter of the expanded proximal anchor greater than a diameter of the expanded distal anchor, 
 the fixed length connecting member has a curved configuration, a length between one and six inches, and a longitudinal axis that is radially offset from an axis of the proximal lumen and an axis of the distal lumen, and 
 in an end view of the intraluminal cardiac device, the distal lumen is rotationally offset from the proximal lumen relative to the longitudinal axis of the connecting member; 
 
 expanding the distal anchor; 
 locking the distal anchor in an expanded configuration to anchor the distal anchor against movement in the coronary sinus wherein locking the distal anchor comprises moving a distal anchor eyelet over a distal locking element of the fixed length connector to a locked position in which the distal anchor eyelet is in a locked position relative to the distal locking element; 
 at a time subsequent to expanding the distal anchor, pulling proximally on the intraluminal cardiac device so as to change the geometry of the mitral valve annulus to reduce undesirable blood flow regurgitation of the mitral valve; 
 at a time subsequent to pulling proximal on the intraluminal cardiac device, expanding the proximal anchor; and 
 locking the proximal anchor in an expanded configuration to anchor the proximal anchor against movement within the coronary sinus to secure the mitral valve annulus in the changed geometry wherein locking the proximal anchor comprises moving a proximal anchor eyelet over a proximal lock to a locked position that is distal to the proximal lock. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein expanding the distal anchor comprises expanding a plurality of distal elongate arms into circumferential engagement with an inner wall of the coronary sinus. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein expanding the distal anchor comprises expanding the plurality of distal elongate arms away from the longitudinal axis of the connecting member. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein expanding the plurality of distal elongate arms comprises expanding the plurality of distal elongate arms away from a tubular securing member into which the plurality of distal arms is secured. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein expanding the proximal anchor comprises expanding a plurality of proximal elongate arms into circumferential engagement with an inner wall of the coronary sinus. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein expanding the proximal anchor comprises expanding the plurality of proximal elongate arms away from the longitudinal axis of the connecting member. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein expanding the plurality of proximal elongate arms comprises expanding the plurality of proximal elongate arms away from a tubular securing member in which the plurality of proximal arms is secured.